Tigers Host No. 1 Gamecocks in Annual Rivalry Game
CLEMSON, S.C - The Clemson Tigers women’s basketball team hosts the South Carolina Gamecocks in the annual women’s basketball game of the Palmetto Series, presented by the South Carolina Education Lottery.
The rivalry game will tip off at 5:00 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN2 with Courtney Lyle and Carolyn Peck on the call. It can also be heard on 105.5 The Roar or the Clemson Tigers app with William Qualkinbush and Faxon Childress on the broadcast.
The Tigers improved to 3-0 on the year with an 81-33 victory against in-state opponent Presbyterian last week. That was the second-consecutive game that Clemson has held an opponent to 33 points in a game.
Through three games this season, the Tigers have been defending at a nationally elite level. As of November 16, the Tigers rank in the top ten in the nation in scoring defense (36.7 – second), rebound margin (21.3 – third), defensive rebounds per game (34.3 – seventh), scoring margin (46.7 – eighth), and field goal defense (.280 – ninth).
Offensively the Tigers are led by Loyal McQueen who has had one of the best three-game stretches of her career. McQueen leads the Tigers in scoring at 17.3 points per game and has scored 20 or more points in Clemson’s last two games. The talented point guard has been efficient from the floor by shooting at a 46% clip and 82% from the free-throw line. She also leads the Tigers with six assists per game.
Mia Moore has been an excellent addition to this team. Through the first three games of the year, the Alpharetta, Ga. native is putting up over 12 points per game and leads the Tigers on the glass by collecting over eight rebounds per game. Moore is shooting an ultra-efficient .522/.500/.909 in her three games with the Tigers.
On the offensive side of the ball the Tigers have played at a high level this season. Through November 16, Clemson led the ACC and ranked 16th in the nation with 63 assists. The Tigers are also taking care of the basketball extremely well and rank 13th in the nation with a 1.7 assist-turnover ratio.
South Carolina (4-0) is coming off a 95-44 win against East Carolina on Sunday to stay undefeated. Shawn Poppie-led teams have never faced off against South Carolina.